Historic Roadside Properties

Current projects

Gooseberry Falls Concourse Rehabilitation (2019)

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places under: Gooseberry Falls State Park CCC/Rustic Style Historic Resources, an Historic District, as a contributing feature in 1989
Original Construction: 1936-40
Designed by: Edward W. Barber
Constructed by: Civilian Conservation Corps

Project scope: The Gooseberry Falls Concourse Rehabilitation has made safety and accessibility improvements to the historic concourse and bridge overlook and repoints the historic concourse structure. The concourse plaza and overlook plaza has been reconfigured. The project also repaired some trails near the concourse and relocated the bridge monument to the north side of the river. This project was designed to meet the Secretary of Interior Standards for Rehabilitation.

Construction update: Nov. 1, 2019. Construction is complete. All trails are open. There may be some smaller repairs or corrective work at the site, but any impacts to visitors will be temporary, and should not impact use of the Concourse or trails.

Before and after photo gallery

Pine-Hickory Lakes Roadside Parking Area (2019)

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Pine-Hickory (PDF) (link to inventory form)
Original Construction: 1938
Designed by: Arthur Nichols, Consulting Landscape Architect
Constructed by: National Youth Administration (NYA)

Project scope: The Pine Hickory RPA Rehabilitation will restore several historic stone features, repave the parking area and make accessibility improvements to the picnic area and portable toilets. A degraded paved trail will be re-paved, while other trails will remain turf, or soft surface. A new fishing pier will be installed by the picnic table. This project has been designed to meet the Secretary of Interior Standards for Rehabilitation. The roadside parking area on Little Pine Lake will be closed during construction. The gravel access and boat launch on Hickory Lake will remain open and is not being worked on. Construction is planned for summer 2019.

Construction update: Nov. 1, 2019. Construction is complete! There may be some smaller repairs or corrective work at the site but this work should not impact visitor use of the site. Read more about the site on this link to the new interpretive sign:

• Pine-Hickory Lakes roadside parking area

Whitefish Creek Bridge Rehabilitation (Bridge 3355)

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Original Construction: 1939
Designed by: Arthur Nichols, Consulting Landscape Architect and National Park Service
Constructed by: Civilian Conservation Corps

Project scope: The Whitefish Creek Bridge will be rehabilitated. Historic stone will be repaired and repointed, including bridge abutments, walks and guardrail stone wall. The bridge deck and approach lanes will be reconstructed and an integral Wyoming guardrail will be installed. This project has been designed to meet the Secretary of Interior Standards for Rehabilitation. Construction is planned for summer 2019.

Construction update: Nov. 1, 2019. Construction is nearly complete. Both lanes are open and are in their new alignment. The contractor is still returning the staging area to original condition.

Graceville Marker Rehabilitation

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Original Construction: 1940
Designed by: Arthur Nichols, Consulting Landscape Architect
Constructed by: Work Projects Administration (WPA)

Recent projects

Garrison Pedestrian Underpass (2018-19)

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Original Construction: 1938
Designed by: Arthur Nichols, Consulting Landscape Architect and National Park Service
Constructed by: Civilian Conservation Corps

Construction update: Sept. 5, 2019. This bridge is completed and was re-opened to traffic in Spring of 2019. Warranty inspections will occur in spring of 2020. Lane closures may be required to complete these inspections and to complete any repairs needed. More information will be posted when this occurs.

Kenney Lake Overlook Rehabilitation

Listed on MnDOT Historic Roadside Development Structures
Kenney Lake Overlook (PDF)
Original Construction: 1939
Designed by: Arthur Nichols, Consulting Landscape Architect and National Park Service
Constructed by: Civilian Conservation Corps

Future projects

2020

Whipholt Roadside Parking Area

Eligible for listing on the National register of Historic Places
Whipholt RPA
Original Construction: 1941, resumed and completed 1951
Designed by: Arthur Nichols, Attributed
Constructed by: WPA and Minn. Dept. of Highways

Project planning information: This project will begin design in 2019 for planned 2020 construction. The Roadside Parking Area (RPA) is on a sandy beach of Leech Lake and also includes a boat launch. Restoration of the stone wall, interpretive elements, repaving and plantings are anticipated project components. The site is within the Leech Lake Reservation along TH 200 just to the east of the Town of Whipholt.

Lake City and Reads Landing Maintenance and Repairs

Project planning information: This project will begin design in 2019 for planned 2020 construction. The work is expected to include stone repointing and repairs of walls, and walks, and repair of interpretive elements at Lake City and stone and brick and plaque repairs at Reads Landing. This project will be the first of annual ongoing long term asset preservation work on historic roadside properties which have already been restored.

How do we select projects for rehabilitation?

New projects are selected via an established project ranking process, which is outlined in the project selection page or to policy and to Capital Highway Investment Plan (CHIP) and State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP).

Projects to repair vandalism or vehicle damage are worked into the rehabilitation program as soon as possible.